Eight people among 19 who went missing last week after being detained by Myanmar's military in restive Rakhine state were released from a regional military camp, the former prisoners and their family members told RFA Thursday.

Four of the prisoners, released Thursday morning, were detained in Alekyun village in An township's Dalet Chaung tract. They were part of a 14-member search party looking for a missing fisherman from the village.

The other four, released Wednesday night, were among five ethnic Chin residents from West Dalet village detained Monday while trying to buy cashew nuts. Among the four released was local school teacher Aung Tun Khin.

According to released Alekyun villagers, soldiers of the Tatmadaw detained them because they were trespassing in a military offensive area. They told RFA that while detained, they were questioned about activities of rebel Arakan Army in the area.

Although eight of the 19 missing villagers have been released, the whereabouts of the other 11 remains unclear.

Reported by RFA Myanmar Service. Translated by Kyaw Min Htun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.